I did have some students from a family like Dave's. I don't know if the "Homesteader" magazine is still being published or not, but Jerry Bellinger (Not sure of the spelling) who owned it back then had children in my classroom. That was a wonderful magazine, focused on how to be self sufficient.
Trish I remember my gradma making her own soap. She alway used home made soap until she got into her 80's. I tried my hand at it last winter, and it turned out great. Nothing fancy, just plain soap made from lard. It's much easier now with the crock pot and hand held blenders. She used to do all the mixing by hand. I would do it more often if I had a supply of lard. I haven't raised hogs now in a long while.
